Apparatus for treating fibers and the like



May i2; 1931. K. M. VANy RENssEllAER ET AL LSW APPARATUS FO'R TREATING FIBERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l May l2, i931 K. M. VAN RENssELAl-:R ET AL 3,805,117

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NWN im, 6m.

MW 12, 1931., K. M. VAN RENssELAl-:R ET AL. 19805U7 APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBERS AND THE LIKE Filed OCT.. 22, 1929 4 sheetshe'et 3 MW/50 S @5% wratten/1,0133 MM50 4. @heats-sheet 4 THE LIKE ,1. ...VIII lll HKM@ mi M Filed 001'.. 22, 1929 K. M. VAN RENSSELAER ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBERS AND May E2, 3931.,

:Patented May l2, i931 KLIAEN M. Vlll RENSSELAER,

OF VOGEMERE, ND HUGO SWANSN, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, SSG'NORS TQ Ttilill' KAEO'-'Z MACT-EINE COR-EOBTEGN, GF BROOKLYN, NEW YQR-K, A CORPORATION OF DELAY-.YARN

APPARATUS EOE TEEEING FBERS AND THE LIKE Application le. Gctober 22, 1929. Serial No. 401,584.

This invention relates in general to ratus and its associated system tor treating fibers, linters and the like.

@ne or" the objects et this invention is the a provision of a new term ot construction in a chamber tor receiving dust or particle laden air.

A. turther object ot this invention is the provision in a container o` this type of construction which permits ready escape ot the air after delivery thereto and the complete capture of the particles carried thereby.

A further object of this invention is the provision or" an aeration tank and piping system including means tor removing the dust from the material being treated, suction boxes, blowers, beaters and the delivery noz- Zles.

A further object ot this invention is the 2o provision ot a new 'form of aeration tank having a section in the bottom thereof, a. connection tor delivering the material thereto, a rotating beater in the bottom thereof above the section, and a delivery passage therefron A Yfurther object et this invention is the provision ot means connected to the aeration tank elow the section, tor removing the dust and dirt therefrom and delivering it to a suitable receptacle.

A still further object of this invention is the. provision of the vdelivery passage 'from the aeration tank ot means for removing any dust and dirt carried by the material being treated as it leaves the aeration tank.

Another object of the invention is the provision or" a teed hopp r in said means.

An additional object ot this invention is the provision ot a novel form ot suction box construction in the conduit system comprising 40 the closet circulatory system connected to the aeration tank.

These and other objects as will appear trom the following disclosure are successfully secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location ot parts, all as will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to the drawings- Figure l and la taken together show the appacomplete system of this invention with some parts breken away;

Figs. 2 and 2o represent together a top plan view of the device in one part and a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ot' Fig. 55 l in the other part;

ll ig. 3 is a perspective view ot the interior ot the dirt and particle removing means;

Fig. fl is an enlarged detail view ot the suction boxes and their association with the con duit system, showing some parts in cross sec tion;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5 5 ot Fig. 4.

his invention will be described in connec tion with the treatment of fibers, cotton linters and similar substances used tor lilling mattresses and the like. rlhe invention et course in its broadest aspect is not limited to this lield ot use, but is described in connection therewith tor purpose of illustration. ln general the invention has todo with improvements in a continuous circulatory system tor cleaning` and breakin(y up the more or less dirty compacted iibers bejore they are in condition for use in filling mattil sses and the like. The invention involves a number ot improvements in such a system which will be more readily understood by detail rete?- ence to the drawings, at whicn time the tunetion and operation ot the various elements will be described in detail.

ln connection with a system ot this type the receptacle which receives the dirt and dust laden air is called the dust house. lille wish to particularly emphasize the tact however that in its broadest aspect the dust house in the improved term shown may be considered as a receptacle for receiving any particle laden air in which the particles may be removed frein the air and the air discharged therefrom. The usual purpose as now einployed is known as a cyclone. However, with this invention the particles may be removed from the air and captured within the container and the air permitted to escape wit-hout the use ot a cyclone. ,ris one example ot the broad aspect in this feature ot the invention it may be pointed out that the receptacle constructed in accordance with the principles low the section 16.

of this invention may he used for instance as a grain bin and the f ain delivered thereto by currents of air. The grain is captured within the receptacle and the air permitted to escape. It is shown as compris-1 a a :frame work of any suitable construction and form, made up of the beams 1 which are fully enclosed or covered on the outside by the covering material 2 which may he for example, metal. In one form this con.

action would comprise a completelyr enclosed container. The interior of the container is covered with burlap or any suitable porous mat 'al which overlies the beams 1 and completely lines the interior of the container. The closeness of the weave of the material will depend upon how small the particles are within the dust laden air. If the particles are grain, for eX- ample, the material 3 might casiiy be a tine mesh wire screen. The walls 2 are provided with windows or ventilators -f near the top and bottom of as many sides as necessary to permit the free and e f escape of the air. The particles carried into the hin by the air will be trapped vtherein and may be removed from the top In connection with the present use of the device it will be called a dust house.

Delivering into the dust house is a pipe G connected to the discharge nozzle of a blower 7. A pipe 8 connects to the intake port of the blower and is connected through a suitable gate valve 9 to the aeration tank 10 berllhe aeration tank 10 is provided with a pipe 11 connected thereto, which is closed oit' at the point of connection by means of a thin wall 12, which is of weaker material than the walls of the tank, so that if undue pressure created therein the wall 12 will be destroyed and the pressure relieved through the pipe 11. The tank 10 is provided with chamber 11 at the bottom thereof in which is rotatably supported on the shaft 1st a series of paddles 15 which are intended to rotate `in a clockwise direction. The space below the section 16 may be reached through a door 17. A discharge pipe 18 is connecte-1l to the chamber 13 and delivers into a closed chamber, which is provided with aA door 2O which opens upon the feed hopper 21. The material is introduced into the circulatory system through the hopper 21 and is picked up by the air flowing through the pipe 1S and chamber 19. The lower part of the delivery pipe 1S is provided with a wall which extends upwardly and terminates short of a horizontal wall 2fl which is provided with a short vertical lin 25. fin extension strip 23 is secured. to the wall 22 and may be adjusted with respect to the fin 25 to vary the width of the space between it and the wail 22. The chamber is provided with a door 2G to give access to the interior thereof and with an air inlet as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A pipe 27 is connected to chamber 19 as shown in the drawings and extends to a point in which a two-way valve 28 is provided shown in Fig. 1c. At this point a branch pipe 29 is connected to the pipe 27 and as shown in Fig. 2c, when valve 28 is in one position the air and material flows to pipe 29 and when in the other position flows on through pipe 27 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2a. Iipe 27 which is connected to pipe 34 is provided with a two-way valve 35 which in one position connects it directly to pipe Se and in the other position closes it oli". The portion of pipe 27 shown in dotted lines Fig. 2a provices a direct connection from chamber 19 to the intake pipe 3a of blower 36. Pipe 29 when the valves 2S and are in the proper position receives the air and material and delivers it through the cleaning arrangement to the intake 84:.

The section 29 of the pipe is associated with the suction boxes 30 which are provided with doors 31 to permit access to the interior thereof. 'Ihe bottom portion of pipe 29 within the suction boxes is perforated or enclosed by a section 32, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2a and 5. A. series of baffle walls 33 are provided within the suction box and partially encircle the bottom of pipe 39 as is clel rr from these figures. The intake passage of the blower 36 is also provided with another pipe 37 which connects to the suction bor; 30 near the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 1c. This pipe is provided with a suitable valve 38.

The discharge. nozzle of the blower is con nected to pipe 42. The blower is driven by means ofthe motor device -l1 and the belt connection 40. Pipe is provided with a nozzle i3 to which the mattress or other article to be filled is connected. Pipe 42 is also provided with a branch 414i which connects to the top '-i-S of the aeration tank. At the point of connection of pipes ft2 and 411 is provided a two-way valve which is operated by the lever fifi against the action of spring l5 when the treadle 1:6 is operated at the connection 47. In the normal position of this valve as shown in Fi 1 the nozzle 413 disconnected from pipe 4:2 which itself is connected to pipe 111. In the path of the air delivered to the tank from pipe elis provided a battle wall in the form of a section if) and a plate 50.

A pipe 54 discharging` into the dust house is connected through the iieXible canvas pipe 53 to the nozzle 48 for a purpose to be described later. rI'he motive device is connected by beit 51 to shaft 1dr. The blower 7 is also connected to shaft 111 through a belt 52.

A description of the operation of the apparatus will now be given. IVhen materials are being treated, blower 7 is operating, paddles 15 are rotating in a clockwise direction and blower 36 is operating. If the suction boxes are boing used the section of pipe 27 between valves 28 and 35 is closed off so that the air and material iiows through pipe 29. Valve 38 is open suiiiciently to create the proper suction in the suction boxes and valve 9 is open to create the proper suction in the bottom of chamber 13. The valve operated by lever 44 is in a position to close off nozzle rEhe door 2O of chamber 19 is open and the material to be treated is delivered into hopper 21 and caught up by the flow of air current in the direction of the arrows shown. Material travels through pipe 27 to pipe 29 and as it flows over the section 32 some of the dust and dirt is removed therefrom. This is due to the suction action of blower 36 through pipe 37. The baiiies 33 are irovided so that the suction action is not too strong and directed upon the section 32 since if it is, the material will stick to the section and clog it. The material then flows on through the blower and back by the pipe 42 to pipe 44 into the aeration tank, striking the baffle Walls 49 and 50. The material falls down and strikes the paddles 15. Here it is broken up and disintegrated from a compacted condition. At the same time the dust, dirt and lighter particles are drawn through section 16 and delivered by blower 7 to the dust house through pipe 6. The main body of material passes through pipe 18 to chamber 19 up along wall 22 and into pipe 2'?. At this point the elements in chamber 19 will be further described with regard to their operation.

Although a great deal of the foreign material is removed in the aeration tank some of the lighter particles get over into pipe 18. rlhis action is enhanced by the fact that the paddles 15 rotate in a clockwise direction ten ding to strike the falling material and direct it upwardly and to the right. Some of the lighter particles travel with the material into pipe 18 where they settle on wall 22. T he movement of the air into pipe 27 causes them to slide along wall 22 where they finally fall off through the small space between the entension 23 and the fin 25. lt will be noted that wall 24 passes a little to the left of the end of the wall 22 so that these particles are not carried along by the air into pipe 27, but are trapped or diverted by the opening between these walls and hence fall down into the space below them. The material is thus circulated through the circulatory system until in a fluffy condition and properly cleaned. A mattress or other casing to be filled is connected to nozzle 43 and a treadle 46 is depressed. This closes ofic pipe 44 and delivers the material through the nozzle into the casing. When properly filled the treadle 46 is freed and the spring 45 operates the valve to prevent any more material being delivered to the nozzle.

si/Then it is desired not to pass the material through the suction boxes, valves 28 and 35 are operated into position to close ofil pipe 29 and the material then flows on through the section of pipe 27 shown in dotted lines in F ig 2a into pipe 34 and thence through the blower to pipe 42.

1When it is desired to clean the dust from the dust boxes pipe 54 is connected to the nozzle 43 as shown in Fig. 2 by means of the flexible canvas connection 53. Valve 3S is opened, valve 35 is rotated so that pipe 27 is closed and valve 28 is moved so that the left hand end of pipe 29 is closed, blower 30 is started, door 31 on the suction box may be partially open or a similar door at the left hand end thereof open. rIhe suction action of the blower 36 draws out the dust and dirt from the suction boX and delivers it through pipe 42 to nozzle 43. rlreadle 46 is depressed so that the nozzle 43 is opened to pipe 42. rlhe dust and dirt is then blown through the nozzle to pipe 54 and thence to the dust house. lf there is any dirt within pipe 29 on section 32 it will be sucked through into the suction boxes and removed. y

As empnasized before one of the important features of this invention is the construction of the dust house which has been described in detail above. Other important features are the construction of the aeration tank with the paddles in the bottom thereof, the construction of the suction boxes andthe way they are used and the means comprisinthe chamber 19 and its parts for removing the liner particles of dirt and dust from the materials being treated. lt has been found in actual use that this separator as it may be called is very efficient in removing dust and dirt from the material. This dust and dirt slides along wall 22 and is dropped or by-passed through the small passage between walls 22 and 24. The iin 25 acts to prevent the fibers from going through this passage.

From the above disclosure it will be apparent that we have embodied certain principles of construction and operation yin a new form of apparatus.v These princples have been illustrated in connection with one physical form of device, but we are well aware that those skilled in the art will readily appreciate variations in the physical form disclosed without departing from these principles. We do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purpose of description, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What we seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a fiber treating apparatus of the type described the combination comprising an aeration tank, a rotatable paddle in the base of the tank, a closed circulatory pipe system connecting the base of the tank with the top, means in the pipe system for causing air to circulate therethrough so as to be delivered into the top of the tank and removed from the bottom, a screen in the aeration tank below the paddles and suction means con nected to the aeration tank below the screen for removingl the dnst and dirt therefrom.

Q. In a liber treating apparatus ol the type described the combination comprising,` an aeration tank, a rotatable paddle in the base of the tank, a closed circulatory pipe syetem connecting the base oif the tank with the top, means in the pipe system for causing air to circulate therethrough so to be delivered into the top of the tank and removed from the bottom, a screen in the aeration tank belov.v the paddles, a dus* house, and means connectingI the aeration tank below the screen with the dnst house for reinoiy Ire' dust and dirt from the base oll the aeration tank to the dust house.

3. In a material treating machine of the type described the combination comprising` the closed aeration tank, a rotatable beater mounted in said tank, a closed circulatory pipe system connected at one end to the top of the tank and at the other end adjacent the beater, means in said system for causing an air current to iow through said pipe system and means in said pipe system adjacent the aeration tank for receivingl the material as it is delivered from the beaters and for removing dust and dirt therefrom.

4. In a material treating' machine of the type described the combination comprising the closed aeration tank, a rotatable beater mounted in said tank, a closed cireulatorj,T pipe system connected at one end to the top of the tank and at the other end adjacent the beater, means in said system for causing= an air current to flow through said pipe system, means in said pipe system adjacent the aeration tank tor receiving the material as it is delivered from the beaters and for removing dust and dirt therefrom, and additional means in the pipe system comprising closed boxes through which a portion of the pipe of the circulatory system passes, said portion being apert'ored at the part exposed to the interior of the boxes.

In testimony We have hereunto set our hands on this 15th day of October, A. D. 1929.

KILIAEN M. VAN RENSSELAER. HUGO R. SVANSON. 

